The bird had flown, as racecaller Darren McAullay said, by the time Alaskan God had hit full stride attempting to catch eventual Listed GA Towton Cup winner Buster Bash, but Chris Parnham says Alaskan God still has the goods to be a Perth Cup challenger.
The Towton Cup over 2200 metres run on Saturday at Ascot on the final day of The Pinnacles was a main lead-up to the Group 2 Perth Cup Cup (2400m) on January 1, and Alaskan God was a fast finishing beaten favourite at $1.85 filling fourth placing and less than four lengths from the winner.
With a solid effort seven days earlier in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) finishing eighth behind Amelia’s Jewel, much was expected of the four-year-old gelding trained by Dan Morton.
Though disappointed not to reel in Buster Bash ($13), leading Perth-based jockey Chris Parnham hasn’t abandoned hope that the current $3.50 Perth Cup favourite can deliver in the New Year.
“He went okay. It would be a pass mark for him,” Parnham.
“It was a strongly run 2200m on a week back-up and first time at the distance this prep.
“That might have just told on him late. I’m not giving up on him.”
Trainer Dan Morton could back Alaskan God up in a fortnight in the Listed ATA Stakes (2200m) or take the three week lead-in to the Cup with the latter more likely.
“Dan will see how he pulls up,” Parham said.
“I think all being well we will push on to the Perth Cup.
“He could run again between now and then, there’s another race in two weeks, but Dan will do the right thing.”
